Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-05-06
CHAPTER XXIV.
Gomez
AT LAST!

Robert said Shirley, how would 1t be II
| knew your fathcrN
"And if You did, Shirley! If he was n man
whom | could not be proud of, would thanll
you to leave his name unrcvcalcd. Since my
ancestry is not what / thought it, let it go.
shall never seel, to lraccit out. 1t mightn't
be pleasant, you know
"How would it be if your father was an
Americana
IL shouldn't mind that now. But if he
wasn't gentleman! No, no, don't tell me,
Shirley"
But how would it be if he was n gentle
man, a man of power and name, and genius,
one whom his countrymen hold high i'll
honor"
THAT would make difference, Shirley, l
confess it. | shouldn't mind it if my parents
had been poor. | despise the vulgar wealth
which in your country sets itself up in the
place of ladyhood and gentlemanhood. If
my father merely one of these vulgar
rich then don't mention his name. But if
he is what you say Tell me, Shirley, who is
my fatherf'
ale is a man you have seen"
"You don't tell met
"You asked me once if | knew him. | said
| had met him | did not tell you he was one
of my earliest friends
Now that is Interesting
"Robert, you are happy indeed. 1t is a
pity we couldn't have the choosing of our
own fathers | always said it. If we could,
we'd all be happier and better looking But
| if you had the choosing of both your father
and your foster father, you couldn't possibly
! have done better for yourself than fate did
| for you. Both are men for any boy alive to
| be proud of. Robert, your father is Philip
| Dumoray."
At this The young man, who prided himself
on cont 'uiing his emotions, walked once
across the room and back. Then he stopped
and remarked merely:
you don't tell mel"
Il have written him., continued Shirley
| "He will be here tomorrow"
The young man meditated. Then he said,
| kindly and condescendingly:
"On the whole | think I'll acknowledge
| him."
Miss Simpkins very i'll. A messenger
came to say that it was the one desire of her
heart to see Shirley Faithful as always,
| forgetful of herself, remembering others,
| Shirley went. 1t was gray, chilly after
| noon. She who had been a minstering angel
| to so many, shivered from head to foot as she
crossed the threshold of home again passing
| out of the cold and darkness into the warmth
and light.
When Shirley came home, Miss Simpkns
was dead Her last look had been turned to
Shirleys face; she passed into the eternal
silence holding Shrley's hand. 1t seemed to
comfort her But Shirley was unduly shaken.
The years of tensely strained life had worn on
| the fine strong organization more than APP
| peared.
She was cold all through, and could not
! rat hn oil nj, - ,l,a 1,.;,,
woman seemed to follow her. and fix them
selves upon hers, turn which way she would.
1t was foolish, nervous impression, but she
could not shake it Off Presently, her teeth
chartered. and she shook all over. She was
in chill. She sighed and said:
81 am cold and tired l am all gone to
pieces"
Next morning she had a fever But it oc-
CURED to nobody that Shirley was seriously
i'll, and needed looking after. 1t had always
been Shirley who looked after the rest.
In the afternoon, Philip Dumoray came
Master and pupil were together at last,
| with none to come between!
When he came, Shirley lay languidly
across by the fire, upon one of the low
couches where her mother had spent years
of ornamental invalidism.
1t happened that none were by to question
the strangeness of his sudden arrival He
lifted Shirley in his arms without word,
and held her in mighty embrace Only
death could take her from him nowl
But of that hour of meeting, no record
more than this will ever be made
After a time she slipped softly from his
grasp and lay back again upon her mothers
low couch. Her hand was clasped in his, a
smile of gladness lowered about her eyes and
mouth.
The door opened, and Robert Dumoray
came and stood beside them Shirley turned
from one to the other with the sweet, bright
look in her face, She had never looked SO
beautiful, both of them thought.
"You have seen Robert" she said to the
master. HE is the dearest to me of all the
brothers, and he is your SON"
She undid her fingers from the masters
clasp, and took Roberts hand and laid it
softly where hers had been So they stood
with clasped hands, father and son. Shirley
laid her own hot quivering hand upon their
two, her eyes turned upward to their faces,
still with the look of ineffable love and joy.
Her face was the face of an angel.
Then her eyes closed, her fingers slipped
away and fell across her breast, her breath
came in quick gasps. Both men, father and
son, sprang toward her An unearthly fear
compressed the masters heart
Good God" said he, "she is ILL.,"
She opened her eyes and smiled family
back at him. Then she rallied and came to
herself again. She lay there, with her cheek
against his hand. and the look of a great
sweet content in her face. Indeed, it was the
face of one who had not an earthly wish left
to be gratified
YES" said Robert, SHIRLEY is not well.
"She is a saint and martyr if there ever
was one on earth. But she shan't work any
more. | shall work for her from this on.
When she gets better I'm going to take her
away, across the water to England with
| Brownie and me- Shirley Ia ours now